Canada to deliver AIM missiles to bolster Ukraine's air defence

Canada is set to supply Ukraine with AIM missiles to reinforce Ukraine's air defence capabilities and enhance its ability to counter cruise missiles. The weapons are already being delivered.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence

Details: The defence ministry reported that Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Canada's Minister of National Defence David McGuinty had met to discuss further defence support for Kyiv.

"The Ukrainian side has expressed its gratitude to Canada for its consistent and effective assistance to Ukraine's defence forces," the ministry emphasised.

Canada's contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative was highlighted among other things. The initiative provides for the rapid delivery of US-made weapons financed for Ukraine by partner countries.

"Recent contributions under the programme have been decisive in repelling large-scale enemy aerial attacks. Ukraine counts on the continuation of PURL support throughout this year as well," the Ministry of Defence stressed.

The sides also discussed an agreement to support the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. The ministry said there are significant prospects for industrial cooperation between the Ukrainian and Canadian governments and companies. Ukraine is particularly interested in cooperation with Canadian companies specialising in UAV control systems.

"Another key area of cooperation is the training of Ukrainian service members, focusing on saving lives. The parties discussed transforming the training system, moving to a model in which the most specialised personnel train others, while training centres are gradually relocated underground to improve safety," the ministry concluded.

Background:

• In late 2025, Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin would supply Ukraine with a "significant number" of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in 2026. The short-range US missile is intended, among other roles, for air defence.
• Earlier, it was reported that Sweden and Denmark would jointly procure and supply Ukraine with air defence systems worth SEK 2.6 billion (around US$290 million) to strengthen protection against Russian aerial attacks.

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